'Selfie-crazy' ex-BJP man held for security breach during CM swearing-in

Anil Mishra, who reportedly likes to get his photos clicked with high-profile individuals to ‘show off’ on Facebook, not only managed to enter Wankhede Stadium without a pass on Oct 31, but also climb the dais and get a photo with PM Modi and others

The Marine Drive police have arrested a former BJP worker for an alleged security breach during the October 31 swearing-in of Devendra Fadnavis as Chief Minister at Wankhede Stadium.

Mishra’s profile picture on Facebook is one of him with BJP chief Amit Shah and others

Anil Mishra, who reportedly has a fondness for getting photographs clicked with high-profile individuals and posting them on Facebook, not only entered the stadium without a valid pass, but also made it to the dais where senior leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and L K Advani were sitting.

Mishra has also put up a picture on his profile with PM Modi at the swearing-in

Police officials said he also managed to get a photo of himself with PM Modi and other dignitaries. Officials said that Mishra, who was vice-president of the Mumbai BJP (Bihar cell), had also been arrested earlier by the Charkop police for illegally using a Government of India sticker on his private car.

A senior officer requesting anonymity said, “After the swearing-in ceremony, a complaint letter was handed over to Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria by a BJP leader, Sanjay Bedia, notifying him of the security breach and of Mishra’s presence on the dais.

Bedia stated Mishra’s full address and said that he had been affiliated with the Bihar cell of the BJP but had been removed in October last year. Bedia complained that Mishra had been misusing the name of the party since then.” In the complaint letter, Bedia also stated that Mishra likes to get his pictures clicked with high-profile individuals and post them on his Facebook page.

Official speakConfirming the arrest, Mumbai Police spokesperson, DCP Dhananjay Kulkarni, said, “The case was registered on Thursday morning and Mishra was arrested the same evening. He was produced in court and has been remanded in police custody.”

When Kulkarni was asked about the reason behind Mishra’s actions, he said, “We are investigating the case, but preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused is fond of clicking photographs with high-profile individuals and showing off through social networking websites.”

Mishra has been booked under IPC Sections 170 (personating a public servant) and 447 (criminal trespass). He has been remanded in police custody till November 11.